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THE DAILY RECORD Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland 13 April 1934 (pages 1 & 2)
WOMAN TELLS OF ‘ABBEY SACRIFICE’
CAT SLAIN ON ALTAR
Man Drinks Blood In Black Magic Story
SCARLET WOMAN’S PART
Miss Nina Hamnett, The authoress, who is one of the Defendants in what has been Described as the “black magic” case.
The Action In Brief. Mr. Aleister Crowley, the author, alleges that the book “Laughing Torso,” by Miss Nina Hamnettt, imputes that he practised “black magic,” and that he has there been libeled.
Miss Nina Hamnett, is one of the defendants. Other defendants are Messrs. Constable and Co., Ltd., publishers and Messrs. Charles Whittingham & Briggs, printers.
The defence is a plea of justification.
“Everything was grotesque and rather mad,” declared a woman witness, giving evidence in the High Court action for alleged libel brought by Mr. Aleister Crowley, the author.
She alleged that she had witnessed the sacrifice of a cat in a villa at Cefalu (Sicily), which was known as the “Abbey of Thelema.”
In another ceremony, said witness, a “scarlet woman” took part.
The first witness for the defence was Mr. Betty May Sedgewick, formerly wife of Frederick Charles Loveday, who had been referred to in the case as Raoul Loveday.
She said she married Mr. Loveday in 1922 and shortly afterwards they met Mr. Crowley.
Up to the end of 1922 Mr. Loveday saw Mr. Crowley from time to time.
Mr. Lilley (for the publishers and printers)—With or without your approval?—With my very strong disapproval.
They went out to Sicily at the end of 1922. She did not wish to go.
“I had to go with my young husband,” she explained.
They arrived at the villa at Cefalu one evening.
Crowley said, “Do what thou wilt shall be the will of the law.”
“Raoul answered ‘Love is the law—Love under will,’ ” witness continued.
“Crowley said unto me, ‘Will you say it?’ I said, ‘I will not.’
“Crowley said, ‘You cannot come into the Abbey unless you conform to the rules of the Abbey. This is the beginning. The first rule of the Abbey.’ I had eventually to make the reply. Then I was admitted,”
Describing one part of the villa, Mrs. Sedgwick said that on the floor also was a red circle and in the centre was a pentagram. In the centre of the pentagram was an altar and on it was a star painted in red. On the table was a book. In one corner were a brazier and a bench. There were many figures on the walls.
IMPROPER PAINTINGS
“They were extremely improper paintings,” continued Mrs. Sedgwick.
“We were shown a book,” witness continued. “I refused to sign. My husband did. I was ordered out of the Abbey unless I signed the book. I had no money. Ultimately I had to sign.
Mr. Lilley—Where did you sleep that night?—I was told I had always from that moment to sleep by myself in a room next to Crowley’s bedroom.
Asked about ceremonies at the villa, Mrs. Sedgwick said there was only one big ceremony, and that was for money. It lasted for about 24 hours and was the biggest of all.
About 5.30 a.m. the household were aroused and had to go out and face the sun. It was called “Adoration.” The children had to stand and put their hands up to the sun.
“The evening ceremony was the great thing of the day. Crowley slept the whole day and lived at night.
“We had high tea,” said witness, “and Mr. Crowley would come and ask for a pail of water to wash his hands. After tea, during the pentagram ceremony, the women sat on boxes in the circle.
MR. CROWLEY’S ROBE
It is difficult to remember what happened,” declared Mrs. Sedgwick. “Everything was grotesque and rather mad, and it really worries me to think about it.”
Mr. Crowley was the head of the ceremony and wore a robe of bright colours. A scarlet woman took part in the ceremony. She was the spiritual wife of Mr. Crowley, and had a magical name which witness could not remember.
Mrs. Sedgwick described the ritual at the Cefalu villa.
“People assembled in the room. And there were little triangular boxes on which they sat. Mr. Crowley sat in front of a brazier in which incense was burned. There were passes made with a sword, and then Mr. Crowley would go up with a sword and breathe a person into him and then out of him.
JEWELLED SNAKE
“That took place every evening, and one Friday there was a special ceremony which was longer. The scarlet woman then wore under her robe a jeweled snake.
“There was a sort of hysterical business. They called on gods. There was an invocation which was first of all done in English.
“It was all done with due solemnity in a room that has two long closed doors. There were two narrow beds. On one there was Mr. Crowley’s sleeping bag.
“There was an enormous painting, too, in the room.
Mr. Lilly: What was it like?—It was terrible.
Do you mean it was indecent?—Most.
There was a medicine chest?—I don’t think it was a medicine chest, but there were places where you could see where to get various things in the way of drugs. There was a bottle of hasheesh in liquid form. There was a bottle of morphia and of ether.
Did you see any sacrifice at all?—I saw a very big sacrifice—a terrible sacrifice—the sacrifice of a cat in the temple inside the circle and on the altar.
Mrs. Sedgwick said the cat had previously scratched Mr. Crowley, who decided it would be sacrificed within three days.
“Everybody was excited because they were going to have the big sacrifice. Mr. Crowley had a knife with a long handle. It was not very sharp.
GASH IN CAT’S NECK
“The cat was crying piteously in its bag. It was taken out of the bag, and my husband had to kill the cat. The knife was blunt, and the cat got out of the circle. That was bad for magical work.
“They had to start all over again, with the cat having such a gash in its neck that they could have killed it shortly. Finally they killed the cat, and my young husband had to drink a cup of the cat’s blood.”
Mr. Eddy (examining): I suggest you have given evidence which is untrue and which you know to be untrue?—No.
FOUR TIMES MARRIED
How many times have you been married?—I think four times.
How many times have you been divorced?—Three.
Before you went to Cefalu were you a decent citizen or not?—I was, I think. Yes, of course, I was. Yes, I was.
You have written a book called “Tiger Woman”?—Yes,
Are you here because you wanted to make money out of this case and to sell your evidence?—Certainly not; I have been subpoenaed to come here.
The examination of Mrs. Sedgwick was not completed when the hearing was adjourned until to-day.
When the hearing of the case was resumed yesterday an invitation that he should “try his magic” on counsel was extended to Mr. Crowley by Mr. Martin O’Connor, another of the counsel for the defence. The invitation was declined.
“I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE”
“You said yesterday,” remarked Mr. O’Connor, “that as a result of early experiments you invoked certain forces with the result that some people were attacked by unseen assailants. Try your magic now on my learned friend (pointing to Mr. Malcolm Hilbery, K.C.). I am sure he will not object.”
“I would not attack anyone,” replied Mr. Crowley. “I have never done willful harm to any human being.”
Mr. O’Connor—Try your magic now. I am sure my learned friend will consent to your doing so.
Mr. Crowley—I absolutely refuse.
COUNSEL’S CHALLENGE
“On a later occasion,” continued Mr. O’Connor, “you said you succeeded in rendering yourself invisible. Would you like to try that on now, for if you don’t I shall pronounce you an imposter?”
“You can ask me to do anything you like,” was the reply. “It won’t alter the truth.”
Referring to an article in 1933 concerning Mr. Crowley’s alleged German propaganda in America, Mr. Eddy asked:
“If there was German propaganda, why did you indulge in it”?—In order to destroy it.
I came back immediately after the war, and if I had been a traitor I should have been shot—and a good job, too.”
Carl [sic] Germer [Karl Germer], a German living in this country, said Mr. Crowley was his guest at his house in Germany for several months.
Mr. O’Connor—Have you ever seen Mr. Crowley invoke spirits?—Yes, the spirit of magnanimity.
“IMPOSTURE”
How long did it stay?—I didn’t have a stop watch.
“I look upon this as an archpiece of imposture,” said Mr. O’Connor.
“I have seen him invoke the sun,” said Mr. Germer later.
“I hope the invocation was on a very foggy day,” commented Mr. O’Connor.
Do you know any black magician who specializes in killing babies?—I do not.
The case for Mr. Crowley was concluded. |
